Come Together Podcast

The podcast that brings diverse guests together to share their experience and find common ground through music.

Nashville Mayor and Musician use Music to Bond - pt.2 01/29/2026

Nashville Mayor and Musician use Music to Bond - pt.2 Part 2 of the conversation between Hon. Freddie O'Connell and Devon Gilfillian at the TEDx Nashville Mixtape event on January 7, 2026. We asked them for a song that they associate with community. Once again, the song selections were GREAT! /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/39833090

Nashville Mayor and Musician use Music to Bond - pt.1 01/23/2026

Nashville Mayor and Musician use Music to Bond - pt.1 The Come Together Music Project and TEDx Nashville partnered to host the first ever Mixtape event. We asked the Hon. Freddie O'Connell and Grammy-award nominated artist Devon Gilfillian to bring their song selections to the following questions: 1. If you were a DJ - what song would you play to get everyone on the dance floor? 2. What is a song that takes you back to middle school? 3. What is a song about someone or something you've lost? 4. What is a song that you associate with community? The resulting playlist was amazing: - September by Earth, Wind & Fire - Starry Eyed Surprise by Paul Oakenfold - Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice - All My Life by K-Ci & JoJo - Waiting in Vain by Bob Marley & The Wailers - So Long to U by Beautiful Small Machines - What's Going On? by Marvin Gaye - All Around the World (or the Myth of Fingerprints) by Paul Simon /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/39829070

Energy Anthems, Unexpected Faves, and Songs of Loss w/Music|Life|Social co-hosts 12/18/2025

Energy Anthems, Unexpected Faves, and Songs of Loss w/Music|Life|Social co-hosts The co-hosts of the podcast join Shaka to talk about songs that instantly give them energy, unexpected favorites, and songs about loss. /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/39462215

Finding Harmony Across Faith 11/07/2025

Finding Harmony Across Faith The Come Together Music Project was glad to sit down with two friends who formed bonds despite their differing beliefs. Matt Hawkins is the Executive Vice President for , an interfaith nonprofit working to secure religious freedom around the world. J.T. Pinna is the executive director of , a group committed to advocacy for the Muslim community and open, public discourse free of consequence, backlash, and fear. On this episode, they talked about songs that remind them of Washington, DC, past friends, and hope. /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/38956740

Come Together x We Made This Political 10/26/2025

Come Together x We Made This Political Shaka is joined by the hosts of the "We Made It Political" podcast. It's a show where Lauren Hall and Lura Forcum talk together and with guests about what political science, psychology, and parenting has taught them about making politics better for everyone. On this episode they choose songs that remind them of best friends, parenting, and protests. It's a great conversation full of surprises. /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/38780610

College, personal heroes, and community 10/01/2025

College, personal heroes, and community Shaka is joined by Dr. Tania Israel and Elizabeth Scharpf of the Ready to Be Strong podcast. They share: music from a college dinner party, songs about personal heroes, and songs about community. This episode covers everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the Boss. Oh, and LOTS of content for Swifties! Link to the playlist . /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/38419400

Three fellows walk into a (musical) bar 03/13/2025

Three fellows walk into a (musical) bar Aspen Civil Society Fellows, Dhani Jones and Jorge Lima, join Shaka to discuss songs that remind us of places, songs that speak to our personal leadership styles, and finally music that encourages strengthening community bonds. Songs reviewed and reacted to: Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell I Love This Bar - Toby Keith Danza Kuduro - Don Omar, Lucenzo River - Leon Bridges Redemption Song - Bob Marley & The Wailers Wanna Be Cool - Nico Segal What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Frederic Chopin Mi Gente - Fania All Stars, Hector Lavoe Simunye (We Are One) - PJ Morton, Soweto Spiritual Singers /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/35675895

Justice, growing up, and a hard day at work 11/30/2023

Justice, growing up, and a hard day at work This season of the Come Together podcast features guests from Nashville, sitting down to find common ground through music. Episode 1 features Juvenile Court Judge and CEO of the Beacon Center, . This unlikely pair discusses where they grew up, what a constitutes a "hard day" at work, and the topic of justice. /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/28857428

Parents, hope, and walkup music 07/25/2023

Parents, hope, and walkup music On this episode Shaka is joined by two friends who, at birth were separated by roughly 4,000 miles. Jonathan Worsley, an Englishman and the Associate Pastor at in Nashville, Tennessee. Joining him is Dr. Theon Hill, a professor of communications at in Chicago. They'll come together as they discuss a parent, hope, and the all-important, "walkup song." We hope you enjoy! /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/27565644

Hobbies, COVID-19, and America - pt. 2 06/05/2023

Hobbies, COVID-19, and America - pt. 2 On part two of this episode, host Shaka Mitchell continues the conversation with Will Snowden and Dr. Vaughn May. The talk more about COVID, and America - in all her glory and with all her faults. /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/27049005

Hobbies, COVID-19, and America - pt. 1 05/21/2023

Hobbies, COVID-19, and America - pt. 1 On this episode, host Shaka Mitchell is joined by Will Snowden and Dr. Vaughn May. is a lawyer, true Renaissance man, and the Director of Vera Institute for Justice's Louisiana office. Vaughn is a of political science at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. After talking about songs that get the party started in their respective homes, they discuss hobbies, COVID, and America - in all her glory and with all her faults. /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/26906247

Getting the party started, summertime, home, and growing old 04/05/2023

Getting the party started, summertime, home, and growing old On this episode of the Come Together podcast Shaka talks to three guests about songs that remind them of summertime, home, and growing old. We get to hear from , a mom and transcontinental traveler, Lizzette Gonzales Reynolds, an education policy , and Yesha Yadav, a based in Nashville. /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/26447460

The Come Together Podcast - Trailer 01/31/2023

The Come Together Podcast - Trailer Now introducing the Come Together podcast where we use music to find common ground. /episode/index/show/b6b14a64-1f50-4a40-8bc6-12552d928bad/id/25785087

Come Together Podcast

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